[Drake] 4-Line Choices

[Paul]

For CW ragchewing and casual contesting, you can't beat the wonderful,
mellow audio of the R-4B! An unmodified R-4C's audio is down-right painful
to listen to with its high pitched hiss.

A modified R-4C is still one of the best receivers around. W8JI (and
others)uses one for DXing on 160 meters. They have one major advantage over
the new, high dollar, ultra-high performance radios - no phase noise. Sadly,
with the R-4C, you hear everyone else's phase noise.

Vy73
Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net]
On Behalf Of bonddaleena at aol.com
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 1:47 PM
To: dsmaples at comcast.net; drake at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Drake] 4-Line Choices


Hi to all. I have 3 R-4Bs and prefer them to my stock R-4C. I DO have all
the Sherwood mods for the C (and a new IF filter) that have yet to be
installed. Since I've retired, I have NO time to play radio.

One thing I noticed that was missing in this discussion, is the use of a
remote VFO with the Drake transceivers. I use them with my TR-4CWs and with
my TR-6. Ever since I first used one, I'd NEVER be without one.
In fact I have several spares... ha ha

ron
N4UE






-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Maples <dsmaples at comcast.net>
To: LEE BAHR <pulsarxp at embarqmail.com>; Cecil Acuff <chacuff at cableone.net>;
John Barnwell <radioniner at yahoo.com>; drake <drake at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wed, Jan 12, 2011 6:49 pm
Subject: Re: [Drake] 4-Line Choices


Lee: I won't try to change your opinion, but having examined both the
urrent schematic and at least some variations of the modifications for
ower supply and audio output, I'm quite confident they are an improvement.
The single-transistor Class-A audio amplifier has much higher distortion and
raws much more power than a properly-matched IC audio amplifier.
bviously, if the input of the IC amplifier is overdriven, or if it's
scillating outside the audible range (not hard to do with an LM380) it's
oing to sound like junk.
The use of the HV DC for low-voltage operation, vs. rectifying and
egulating the low-voltage AC, is another source of heat and wasted power.
I'm not going to speak for the other mods, but these two are definitely on
y list for my R-4C.  I may or may not follow the Sherwood design in either
ase (there's a very small 7-watt audio amplifier from Velleman that I've
sed in other designs that I think would be a better  choice, for example),
ut correcting these two design issues are high on my list.
To each his own.
73,
ave WB4FUR

----Original Message-----
rom: drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net
mailto:drake-bounces at mailman.qth.net]On Behalf Of LEE BAHR
ent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 9:20 AM
o: Cecil Acuff; John Barnwell; drake at mailman.qth.net
ubject: Re: [Drake] 4-Line Choices

hat is your opinion but not mine.  My experience is they screw up the
adio.
Lee, w0vt

---- Original Message -----
rom: "Cecil Acuff" <chacuff at cableone.net>
o: "LEE BAHR" <pulsarxp at embarqmail.com>; "John Barnwell"
radioniner at yahoo.com>; <drake at mailman.qth.net>
ent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 7:56 AM
ubject: Re: [Drake] 4-Line Choices

I think claiming the Sherwood mods to be BS is a little broad and pretty
much unfounded.  As nice as the R4C is it has it's problems and all are not
age related.  The power supply by now needs the filter caps brought up to
date.  The pesky mixer tube issues and it's bad placement on the chassis
can be improved upon. (eliminate the tube)  The audio amplifier can be
improved with cleaner audio and reduced heat and there are a couple of
other areas that slip my mind at the moment.

 Sherwood offers kits to fix the identified shortcomings whether they be
 design or age related.

 If you are a purist about these radios and feel the need to make them
 original with their few designed in warts that's fine.  They look nice
 sitting on the shelf pretty and all original.  If you use one regularly
 you will find those upgrades have merit.  They are also very affordable to
 perform.  Those are the Sherwood basic mods..

 Sherwood also offers mods to bring the receiver up to modern day
 performance specs on the bands.  Mods that can make the receiver a
 competition grade performer for the contester or DXer on CW.  If you buy
 one of these and want to rag chew on 40 SSB with it you won't like it
 because the roofing filter mods do kill the broad, rich SSB sound these
 radios are known for.  The mods are expensive but do transform the radio
 for tight CW work.  Also check the resale value on these...Sherwood modded
 R4C sell for big bucks relative to a stock receiver.

 As I understand it not a week goes by that he doesn't sell R4C related mod
 kits....even after all these years.  He never expected that!


 Cecil
 K5DL

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